Pharmacology Basics

Question 1

What are the 8 medication rights?

Answer 1

• Patient
• Medication
• Dosage
• Route
• Time
• Response
• Documentation
• Reason

Question 2

What are the different drug administration routes?

Answer 2

1.) Oral
2.) Inhalation
3.) Topicals (buccal, sublingual, and translingual; nasal; eyes; ears; transdermal; rectal and vaginal)
4.) Parenteral (IV, IM, subQ)

Question 3

The 4 stages of pharmacokinetics are: absorption, distribution, _____, and _____

Answer 3

Metabolism; Excretion

Question 4

The following errors can occur during _____:
- Prescriber’s orders are incomplete or illegible
- Contraindicated drugs are prescribed
- The prescriber specifies the wrong dose, dose, route, or frequency
- Drugs are prescribed using inappropriate or inadequate verbal order
- An incorrect drug, dose, route, time, or frequency is transcribed into the MAR by the pharmacist or nurse
- Drug verification and documentation in the MAR by the pharmacist or nurse are inadequate
- Prescribed drug is filled incorrectly by the pharmacy
- Failure to deliver the right drug to the right place occurs

Answer 4

Pre-administration

Question 5

The following errors can occur during _____:
- The wrong drug is given to the wrong pt
- The wrong dose is calculated and given or infused
- The right dose is incorrectly prepared (i.e. crushing a drug that shouldn’t be crushed)
- The right drug is administered by the wrong route (i.e. oral drug that is given IM)
- The right drug is given @ the wrong time or @ the wrong frequency

Answer 5

Administration

Question 6

The following errors can occur during _____:
- The pt is not adequately monitored after the medication is given
- Documentation of the pt’s condition after administration lacks detail and does not fully represent the pt’s response to drug therapy
- Hand-off communication btwn licensed healthcare professionals is incomplete
- There is inadequate reporting of medication erros

Answer 6

Post-administration

Question 7

What steps are generally included in the pt teaching process of a med?

Answer 7

• Introduce the drug (generic and trade)
• Explain in clear terms what the drug is used for
• Provide pt w/ concise directions on how to take the medication (route, dose, frequency, timing, w/ or w/o food)
• Discuss potential interactions (drug-drug; drug-food)
• Discuss side effects and adverse effects (which need to notify HCP)
• Conclude w/ specific tips to ensure drug safety i.e. drug adherence to therapy even when feeling better

Question 8

Although most drugs are metabolized in the _____; they can also be metabolized in the plasma, kidneys, and intestines

Answer 8

liver